Kay Rodriguez
Adventure Travel For The Non-Athletes
Have you ever turned down the chance to participate in an adventure activity because you were worried that you weren’t fit enough? When I signed up for my first multi-day trek, I was feeling a little bit apprehensive. I’m your average twenty-something; I work out a few times a week and stay relatively active, but […]
Dealing With Bad Weather On Your Travels
I had it all planned out – 2 weeks in Iceland, rental car, driving the Ring Road. In the weeks before my trip, I picked out which locations I wanted to visit, which side roads I wanted to take, and which hikes I wanted to try. Confidently, I boarded my plane to Iceland, excited to […]
6 Multipurpose Essential Travel Items That You Should Always Pack
As backpackers, we challenge ourselves to travel as lightly as possible. So, when we’re faced with pricey high-tech organizational systems, quick-dry this and that, and other expensive travel novelties, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Never fear though, because, with just a few multipurpose essential travel items, you can keep yourself organized and clean for the […]
How To Rock the Long Layover
We all know that feeling when you look at the cheapest flight to another city and find out that – yikes – it has a 16-hour layover. That knee-jerk reaction is natural, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be guaranteed a miserable day sitting in an airport doing nothing. In fact, most large cities have various […]
Traveling Solo While In A Relationship At Home
During my travels, I see quite a bit of my hostel lobby. It’s great because I get to relax in (usually) comfy chairs and watch travelers come and go, often chatting with the hostel staff and learning a bit of the local language. But the real reason that I spend so much time there, and […]
When Trouble Strikes Abroad
Imagine this: you’re alone in unfamiliar territory, and maybe you’re feeling the pangs of solitude associated with traveling. Everything is going smoothly, and the threat of something bad happening doesn’t even cross your mind. Perhaps you’re far, far away from the nearest big city, without reliable cell service or internet access. And then something happens […]
Getting Around Myanmar
Myanmar is a country that will surprise, confuse, and amaze you – its transportation system is no exception. From rickety train rides to freezing overnight buses and off-roading tuk-tuks, the ways to get around the country are limitless, and also quite daunting. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the different transportation systems, their risks and rewards, […]
Scuba Diving in Koh Tao
When I was young, I was always afraid of the water. I didn’t learn to swim until well after my friends in school, and even when I became more comfortable with it, the thought of being in a place where I couldn’t breathe really scared me. My ten-year-old self would have never dreamt of going […]
Rio de Janeiro on a Shoestring
Imagine sun tanned beach-goers sipping on cool coconuts, striking rock formations, and dazzling spectacles of music and dance… All of these things exist in one incredible city – Rio de Janeiro. There’s a reason they call it the Marvelous City! Of course, you’ve probably seen tons of photos of Rio on TV or online and […]
Packing for Long-Term Travel
In the days leading up to my Southeast Asia trip, I was a total mess. Clothes were strewn across the room, my bag a disorganized chaos of toiletries, chargers, and plastic bags. There was a never-ending to-do list of things I needed to finish, clothes to pack, and items to buy. My backpack was getting […]
How to Explore Carnaval in Brazil
One beautiful, sunny afternoon in Rio, I was listening to my professor drone on and on about something I didn’t understand and looking out the window when a brilliant idea popped into my head: What if I decided to jump on a bus to another city for the weekend? As my professor’s words slowly drowned […]
Five of Kay’s Most Embarrassing Travel Moments
When I get embarrassed, my eyes widen and my heart begins to pound, that sinking feeling of “oh crap, what have I done?” clouding my brain. My hands get clammy and I get slight goose bumps. I stutter when I speak. I feel the extremes of angry, sad, irritated, amused, mortified and confused all at […]